Officials in India have reported that rescuers are facing significant challenges in a rugged terrain and adverse weather conditions as they search for survivors on Thursday, following a landslide that claimed the lives of at least 16 people in a mountain village after heavy rains poured down the slopes. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the state parliament that 10 bodies have been recovered and over 80 people rescued, but estimates suggest that at least 225 people were living in the small village.
The landslide occurred overnight in the remote village of Irshalwadi, located in Maharashtra state, about 60 kilometers from Mumbai. Initial reports indicated fears that approximately 100 individuals may be trapped beneath the debris, and rescue teams are struggling under the heavy rains to extract survivors, while relatives wait for news about their loved ones at the foot of the mountain.
A landslide in a neighboring village two years ago resulted in the deaths of over 80 people. A meteorological official stated that more rain is expected today, though it will not be as heavy. A red alert has been issued for the coast of Maharashtra as well as for Gujarat to the north, which has also experienced heavy rainfall this week. Schools and universities in Mumbai, the financial capital, closed their doors on Thursday. Authorities also suspended some train services on Wednesday after heavy rainfall hit the city.
Flooding, landslides, and incidents caused by heavy rain have resulted in over 100 fatalities in India since the start of the monsoon season on June 1. A recent wave of extreme heat, wildfires, heavy rains, and flooding has caused chaos worldwide in recent days, raising new concerns about the pace of climate change.
